Anyone know of software similar to Go Back

ND4SPD · March 25th, 2008, 11:44 AM

Hi All,
A while back when I worked with Geek Squad one of my co-workers and I were discussing a piece of software that had recently come out (I think it might have been shareware or open source). Anyway, this program once installed would protect the system from changes to the registry, files or other things when the "lock" was turned on. Imagine "locking" the computer, letting your kid screw everything up, delete files, etc... All you do is reboot, and everything was just the way it was before. When the system is unlocked, changes can be made as normal and will stick. Has anyone had any experience with software like this? I know System Restore *sorta* does this and Norton Go Back is out there, but this was something different. Anyone heard of the program I'm talking about and or know what it might be?

Steve R Jones · March 25th, 2008, 12:14 PM

Pretty sure Microsoft has something like you're talking...If and when I can remember the name of it, I'll post back.

Steve R Jones · March 25th, 2008, 12:24 PM

Windows SteadyState

Brief Description
Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet cafe, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no matter who uses them.

Click Here

nemowolf · March 25th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Yea, It basicly makes an image and reverts to the image on reboot. I am doing my initial testing for my company as a solution to shared kiosks.

Since you worked at GS, you should know of Deep Freeze. The company makes many similar products to Steady State.

carl33p · March 25th, 2008, 01:59 PM

We use Deep Freeze were I work. Works great.

outlaw2001it · March 25th, 2008, 02:24 PM

I'll go with Deep Freeze also. Used it in the past, and works great. I would never trust anything by Microsoft, even their system restore does not restore the system completely.

Steve R Jones · March 25th, 2008, 02:52 PM

Outlaw - which version of Linux are you running

And do you know that Windows System Restore isn't suppose restore the system completely?

outlaw2001it · March 25th, 2008, 03:47 PM

I know that system restore doesn't restore completely. Right now I'm swapping between XP, and Ubuntu 7.10. I'm not using it that much right now since I'm on MS Flight Simulator most of the time.

nemowolf · March 25th, 2008, 04:21 PM

you may not like Microsoft but the one thing they know is the group policy on their own operating system. Steady state, unlike deep freeze, integrates into the system rather than sits on top of it. Unlike Deep Freeze, you can uninstall it without any issues because it just removes the group policy changes. Now the big kicker for me and my company is that its FREE.

Now i have checked out the product line with Deep Freeze but the big issue is that i can't seem to justify paying 50 bucks for a single computer when it doesnt do everything i want. To get a "Complete" protection you need to also buy their other software that white lists programs, anti-executable. Buying two products to do the same job as one free one doesnt seem to make a whole lot of sense to me.

Now depending on the needs of a business, etc. there are many reason to use Deep Freeze since it is a current and actively supported product unlike Steady State that was produced and then basicaly left on the side of the road. Personally, it does the job and I have liked the ease of installation and setup so far.

ND4SPD · March 26th, 2008, 11:10 AM

I think Deep Freeze was probably the program my coworker and I were discussing. I had *thought* that the program we were talking about was a standalone program with no network involvement (we presumed that there was a special partition out on the hard drive somewhere). I don't think it was Steady State because it doesn't address deleted files.